Proto-Tamil-Malayalam

Proto-Tamil Malayalam theory and its findings.

The Proto-Tamil-Malayalam theory represents the most recent approach to studying the evolution of the Malayalam language. This theory leverages contemporary insights into linguistic families and incorporates recent discoveries and changes that have occurred over various periods. It also takes into account the latest inscriptional evidence that has been uncovered, providing a more comprehensive and updated understanding of the language's development.

Further, this theory suggests that both Tamil and Malayalam may have evolved from a common ancestral language known as Proto-Tamil-Malayalam. Unlike previous theories that either positioned Malayalam as a direct offshoot of Tamil or as an entirely independent language, this approach acknowledges the close linguistic ties between the two languages while also highlighting their unique evolutionary paths. The Proto-Tamil-Malayalam theory utilizes advances in historical linguistics, including phonological, morphological, and syntactic analyses, to trace back the features of contemporary Malayalam and Tamil to their shared origins.

Furthermore, this theory integrates newly found inscriptions, which provide tangible evidence of linguistic practices from earlier periods. These inscriptions help to map out the changes in language use over time, offering a clearer picture of how Proto-Tamil-Malayalam gradually diverged into two distinct languages. By combining these inscriptional findings with modern linguistic methodologies, researchers can better understand the complex interplay of social, political, and cultural factors that influenced the evolution of Malayalam.

Scholars such as Kamil Zvelebil, A. Govindankutty, S. V. Shanmugham, E. V. N. Namboodiri, and Dr. Naduvattom Gopalakrishnan each support this view in their unique ways.

According to Kamil Zvelebil, Proto-South Dravidian may be divided into two branches based on the occurrence of proto forms and subsequent changes: one branch is Tamil-Malayalam and Kannada. Tamil-Malayalam displays unique characteristics, such as (1) the retroflex continuant (l), (2) the alveolar stop (r), and other changes like the transformation of Proto-Dravidian e/o vowels into i/u in Malayalam when the following syllable contains an 'a'. Additionally, 'k' changes to 'c' due to palatalization when not preceded by 't', 'n', 'l', or 'ṟ'. Morphologically, there are similarities in the present tense marker, the suffixes -āṇ, and the suffix vu/ppu, highlighting the unity of Tamil-Malayalam.

In this proto-Tamil-Malayalam continuum, the west coast language eventually diverged, becoming an independent language. Inscriptions indicate that new changes began in the 9th and 10th centuries. Notable changes in Malayalam include:

• Phonemization of the enunciative vowel ɯ

• Differentiation of alveolar and dental nasals into distinct phonemes

• Transformation of -ay> a

• Nasalization

• Palatalization of the past tense marker, with ay>e in the accusative case marker in colloquial Tamil

• Sixth case markers changing from uṭaya> uṭe, ṉte>ṉṟe

• Fifth case markers changing from iṉukku> ṉu/ṉṉu and kiṉṟu> unnu (possibly from uṉtu) for the present tense marker

• Abandonment of personal termination

Govindankutty also argues that there is a common Proto stage for Tamil and Malayalam. He posits that the west coast dialects diverged from Proto-Tamil-Malayalam at a very early stage, preserving proto forms such as the palatal nasal (ɲ). In Tamil, 'n' replaced ñ before the Sangam age. The inflectional base of the second person singular retains 'i' in Malayalam, whereas in Tamil, 'i' changes to 'u' due to subsequent developments, as seen in words like uṉ, um, ṉum, and ṉuntai. Tolkappiyam 367 illustrates sandhi changes where l+ k > ṟk. Malayalam does not exhibit this change, suggesting that Malayalam separated from Tamil before this linguistic shift occurred in Tamil.

S.V. Shanmugham discusses the origin and evolution of the Malayalam language. He explains that Tulu was the first language to separate from the South Dravidian language, followed by Kannada, and then Kodagu. Toda and Kota also separated independently. After these separations, there was a common or proto stage for Tamil and Malayalam. During this stage, several linguistic changes occurred, such as *k > c (e.g., *kevi > cevi), e/o > i/u (e.g., koṭu > kuṭai/kuṭa), and *c > j (e.g., ucir > uyir, pecar > peyar). Certain numerals and gender markers also developed during this stage, such as toṇṇūṟŭ, toḷḷāyiram, and masculine gender markers like āyan, valaiyan, pārppan and feminine markers like āyatti, vaṇṇātti, pāṭṭi, ciṟumi.

Shanmugham notes that some features of the Malayalam language originated before the Sangam age and were influenced by changes in the west coast dialects. These changes include the dropping of the initial y- (e.g., yāṟu > āṟu, yāmai> āmai /āma , yānai > ānai/ānai), palatalization (e.g., āytti > āycci/ācci, iṭaitti > iṭaicci/iṭaicci, viḷayntu > viḷaiñcu/viḷaññu), and the use of the plural suffix -mār. Augments in numerals also evolved, such as aṉ.

During the Sangam age, the literary language of Keralites was Centamil, while their spoken language was Proto-Malayalam, which had the status of a dialect. It was the conscious recognition by Keralites that their spoken language was distinct from Tamil. Several scholars have their own observations regarding the origin of the Malayalam language, including Vellaykkal Narayana Menon, C.L. Antony, R. Leela Devi, V.I. Subramanyam, S. Shajahan, and K.M. Prabhakaravarrier.

K.M. Prabhakara Varrier contends that Tamil and Malayalam share a common proto stage, with various historical, cultural, geographical, and social factors contributing to Malayalam's development as an independent language. Despite grammatical and morphological similarities with Tamil, it is challenging to pinpoint the exact period when Malayalam separated from Proto-Tamil-Malayalam. The evolution of Malayalam occurred gradually over centuries.

Varrier emphasizes that the preservation of Proto-Dravidian features is not a crucial factor in determining origin, as these features naturally occur in languages derived from Proto-Dravidian. However, the new changes found commonly in Tamil and Malayalam, but not in other South Dravidian languages, indicate a proto stage for Tamil-Malayalam. This separation likely began before the Sangam age. The dialect of the west coast differed from the eastern dialects even before the Sangam age, but this did not signify independent status. It was akin to the differences between Lakshadweep Malayalam and common Malayalam, a variation that persisted in Kerala after the Sangam age.

The literary language did not necessarily reflect the colloquial language due to the complexity of the olden days, unlike today, where education, political unity, societal consciousness, and ease of interaction ensure minimal difference. The Ramacaritam, for instance, does not reflect the colloquial language. The term Tamil, used by older poets, did not refer to a general term 'bhaasa,' and the style was prevalent during that period. Centamil became a literary language early on, and even in Kerala, the literary language was Centamil, while the colloquial language was not yet independent or distinct. The Ramacaritam, a work from Northern Kerala, was used for daily reading in households, and folk songs, lacking written records, are unreliable for linguistic or historical analysis.

The development of Malayalam, as seen through inscriptions and literary languages, marks its evolutionary change. The 14th-century grammatical treatise Liilatilakam mentions that Keralabhasa is distinct from Pandya Tamil, with Sanskrit contributing to the modulation of the language in Kerala. There are no written regional evidences in Kerala until the 9th century, but regional developments are reflected in the Vazhapally and Tarisapally inscriptions. The characteristics of west coast dialects are evident in Ramacaritam and Bhaasakautaliiyam, and they underwent significant change by the time of Krishnagatha. There was a notable evolutionary change between the 9th and 13th centuries. The theories of Elamkulam Kunjanpillai's misRabhaasaavaadam and Antony's samskrtavaadam contain elements of truth in illustrating the development of prose language as seen in inscriptions.

According to E.V.N. Namboodiri, there are certain evolutionary changes that separate Malayalam and Tamil, occurring before the modulation of Centamil:

1. The Phoneme Aytam: The 15th-century grammatical treatise Lilatilakam and Virachozhiyam state that Ayta varnnam does not occur in Keralabhasha. Tolkappiyam and Nannul refer to Aytam as carppezhuttu, distinguishing it from kuttiyalukaram and kuttiyalikaram because it has its own script. Aytam is considered a Tamil alphabet, indicating that Malayalam separated from Tamil when Tamil possessed the Aytam script.

2. Personal Pronoun - First Person Singular: In Tamil, it is "naaṉ," while in Malayalam, it is "ñāṉ." The change from "yāṉ" to "ñāṉ" to "nān" is natural, unlike the sequence "yāṉ" to "nān" to "ñāṉ" proposed by A.R. Raja Raja Varma.

3. Second Person Singular Pronoun: In Malayalam, it is "niṉ" (e.g., "niṉṉe," "niṉakku"), whereas in Tamil, it is "uṉ" (e.g., "uṉṉai," "uṉakku"). The Malayalam form is considered the proto form. Kannada shares this form with Malayalam, using "niṉ" (e.g., "niṉṉa," "niṉage").

4. Demonstratives: Malayalam and Kannada use "a," "i," and "e," whereas Tamil uses "anta," "inta," and "enta." Therefore, the forms in Malayalam are older than those in Tamil.

5. nṟ- nn Forms: In Malayalam, "nṟ" changes to "nd" and then to "nn," similar to Kannada. In Tamil, "nṟ" changes directly to "nn" (e.g., "onṟŭ" becomes "onnu").

Reference

1. Dravidian Linguistics An Introduction, Kamil V. Zvelebil, 1990

2. The origin of Malayalam Language- The Linguistic theories, Lekha Kumari, 2021 IJCRT | Volume 9, Issue 12 December 2021

3. Malayalam Classical Bhasha Pazhakkavum Vyakthitvavum, Dr. Naduvattom Gopalakrishnan, 2012

4. പൂർവ്വകേരളഭാഷ, K.M Prabhakara Varier, 1982